Air circulating apparatus



Nova 14, 1950 J. R. BOYLE AIR CIRCULATING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. John E Eagle,

Nova 14,, 1950 J. R. BOYLE AIR CIRCULATING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ja/zzz EfioyZa Patented Nov. 14, 1950 AIR omcomrmc APPARATUS John R. Boyle, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Westerlin & Campbell Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application November 26, 1941, Serial No. 420,460. Divided and this application July 21, 1945, Serial No. 606,434

7 Claims. (01, 257-2 This application is a division of my prior ap- V V plication, Serial No. 420,460, filed November 26, 1941, which issued on August '7, 1945, as Patent No. 2,380,935.

The present invention relates to air circulating apparatus adapted to be associated with an air circulating duct for the purpose of governing the velocity, pressure, temperature, direction of flow, etc., of the air issuing from said duct. My improved apparatus can be utilized as a part of an air circulating system or air conditioning system arranged to discharge air or to circulate air in a room, conditioning chamber, display case, or other enclosure.

The structure of the present invention takes the general form of an improved controllable grille or register which governs the volume, velocity, direction of flow, etc., of the issuing air, and which also contemplates the use of improved thermal control means for governing the temperature of such issuing air.

One of the features of the invention is a unique construction and arrangement of plenum chamher which is incorporated in the apparatus at a point between the duct and the grille or other discharge opening. This plenum chamber reduces the velocity and changes the direction of flow of that portion of the air stream which is being diverted from the main air stream flowing through the supply duct. This diverted air stream should not issue from the grille or discharge opening at too high a velocity, otherwise it will be objectionable from the standpoint of drafts. Furthermore, this diverted air stream should issue from the grille or discharge opening in a direction approximately at right angles to the grille and to the length of the duct, otherwise the distribution of the air will be uneven and the effectiveness of flow from the grille will be greatl reduced. The above arrangement of plenum chamber greatly improves the performance of the apparatus with regard to this reduction of velocity and change of direction of flow.

Another feature of the invention resides in an improved volume control for governing the volume of the air which is thus diverted from the main air stream of the duct for discharge out through the grille or discharge opening into the room. This volume control may be arranged to respond to temperature, static pressure, or manual regulation in different preferred embodiments which I shall hereinafter describe.

Another feature of the invention resides in an improved thermal control means for governing the temperature of the air issuing from the discharge opening or grille. This thermal control may be for the purpose of heating the air or cooling the air, depending upon the requirements of the particular installation. I preferably accomplish this thermal control by having the diverted air impinge against a thermal exchange conduit, and then varying the effective area of impingement of the air against said conduit.

Another feature of the invention resides in an improved arrangement of deflecting vanes or fins associated with the discharge opening and capable of being readily positioned for directing the issuing air stream at substantially any desired angle with respect to the room or other enclosure.

Another feature of the invention resides in the ability to manufacture and install the apparatus at relatively low cost, the construction being largely sheet metal and being preferably of unit lengths which can be readily joined together when a long continuous structure is desired.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof.

In the accompanying drawings these embodiments:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a conventional refrigerated display case for meats and the like, showing one embodiment of my invention arranged for cooling the circulated air;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the air supply duct, plenum chamber, cooling coil and grille or discharge opening;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified construction wherein the volume control is responsive to static pressure;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing a modified construction wherein the volume control is responsive to manual adjustment; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure l, showing a modified construction wherein the volume control is responsive to temperature, static pressure and manual adjustment.

The display case 2! of Figure 1 is of any typical construction comprising side and end walls 22 and 23 of heat insulating material. The front and top walls are provided with the usual glass panels or windows, not shown, for displaying illustrating the meats or other commodities contained within the case.

The air circulating system comprises the long air supply duct 25 which extends substantially throughout the entire length of the display case along the bottom surface of the display space. A blower 25, driven by an electric motor 27, is positioned at one end of the case and has its outlet 25 connected to discharge into the end of the duct 25. The duct is of conventional sheet metal construction comprising the top wall 28, side wall 29, and bottom Wall 3|. The bottom wall 3| is curved upwardly at the other side of the duct structure to form a grille casing or outlet casing, as indicated at 32, which casing is continued upwardly and backwardl as indicated at 33 to form the grille slot or discharge opening 3 1, This discharge outlet 36 extends substantially the entire length of the duct 25, and locatedat spaced points along its length are outlet deflector vanes 35. These have a tight frictional mounting on supporting pins or bolts 36 which extend down'through the outlet wall 33 and top wall 28 of the duct. The deflector vanes 35 can be manually turned to different deflecting angles for securin the desired distribution of air to different points in the display case. A return air space 38 is defined between the vertical side wall 29 of the air supply duct and the adjacent vertical wall 22 of the case, through which air space or channel the return air is recirculated back to the blower 26.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the air conveyed through the supply duct 25 is required to pass through a first plenum chamber 4| and through a second plenum chamber 42 before issuing from the discharge outlet 34. One or more lengths of heat exchange conduit 44 extend longitudinally of the second plenum chamber 52. In the present situation wherein the air is to be cooled, these thermal transfer 40 conduits 44 will carry a suitable refrigerant or other cooling medium.

A high velocity throat 4'1 governs the volume of air entering the first plenum chamber M from the supply duct 25. This high velocit throat is made controllable in area in response to temperature, static pressure, or manual adjustment. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the area of this throat or inlet varies in response to temperature. The two plenum chambers GI and 42 are separated from the main area of the duct by a movable wall 48 and a. stationary wall 49. The movable wall 48 can be flexed upwardly and downwardly for varying the respective area of the high velocity throat M. The free end of this flexible wall 48 carries a pivot lug which is pivotally connected by way of link 52 with one arm of a bell crank lever 53. The lever has fulcrum mounting at E4 on a suitable bracket or other stationary point of support projecting from the duct wall 29. Pivotally connected with the arm of the bell crank lever 53 is a link 56 which extends to a thermally responsive element preferably consisting of a thermal bellows 51. This bellows is shown as being mounted in a suitable bracket 58 disposed on the outer side of the duct wall 29, where it will be exposed to the flow of return air passing through the return air space 38 back to the inlet of the blower 2E. The operating connection between the thermal bellows 51 and the flexible wall 48 is preferably such that when the temperature of the return air rises to a substantially predetermined point or range, the expansion of the bellows 5'! becomes operative to open the high velocity throat 47 to a greater degree, for permitting a larger volume of air to flow from the duct 25 through the plenum chambers 4i and 42 and into the display case. The volume of air impinging against the heat exchange pipe Ml in the second plenum chamber 52 is also subject to regulation or control through the medium of a pair of deflecting vanes 5| and 62. These vanes are pivotally mounted at the constriction of a high velocity throat which connects the first plenum chamber 45 with the second plenum chamber he two vanes are in. link connected at G and are arranged to be swung upwardly or downwardly through an operating lever 65 connected by a rod 56 with a control unit 6?. The control unit is shown as a thermally responsive bellows, similar to the bellows 5?, said latter bellows 6? being also mounted on the brackets 58 disposed within the return air duct 38. When the temperature in this return air duct rises to a predetermined point or range, the expansion of the bellows 6"! swings the deflecting vanes GI and 62 downwardly so as to cause the air issuing through the throat G3 to have a greater area of impingement on the heat exchange pipe 44. Assuming this pipe to be conveying a coolant, this greater area of impingement will subject the air to a greater cooling influence for lowering the temperature within the display case. Con versely, when the temperature of the return air falls to a predetermined point or range, the contraction of the bellows 67 swings the deflecting vanes ill and 52 in an upward direction, toward or into the dotted line positions, for reducing the area of impingement oi the air against the conduit 45, or for avoiding any impingement oi the air against said conduit, thereb reducing or avoiding the heat transfer action between the air and the conduit. The two thermal bellows 5'! and 67 can be adjusted and arranged to handle diflierent ends of the entire range of temperature control, such, for example, as by having the bellows 5? handle the low end of the range and having the bellows 67 handle the high end of the range. As an alternative embodiment, both thermal bellows could be adjusted and arranged to act conjointly over substantially the same portion of the control range. The throat 4? and its movable wall 48 preferably extend through a major portion of the length of the duct and, similarly, the second throat 63 and deflecting baffles SI, 62 preferably extend through a major portion of the length of the duct.

Figure 3 illustrates modified construction which corresponds substantially to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 except that the volume control exercised by the first high velocity throat 41 responds to the static pressure in the duct 25. In this embodiment, a light compression spring H, or a plurality of such springs disposed at spaced points along the length of the duct, tend to flex the movable wall 48 upwardly to increase the size of the throat 41. This action of the springs is opposed by the static pressure of the air traveling through the duct 25, the greater the static pressure the more the throat is restricted so that the air passing into the plenum chamber 4| is maintained at a fixed volume or rate, or is held within predetermined limits of volume or rate. The spring 7i surrounds a stem or guide 12 which passes up through the bottom wall SI and through the end flange 48' of the movable wall 48. A limiting stop or head 75 13 on the upper end of said stem limits the upward flexing movement of the wall. The stem 12 may be adjustable, if desired, as by threading the lower portion thereof and having this threaded portion pass through a tapped guide boss 74 secured to the botom wall 3!. By screwing the stem upwardly or downwardly within this tapped guide boss the head 13 can be adjusted for a greater or lesser range of movement of the movable wall 48. Adjusting means may also be provided for adjusting the pressure of the spring ll, if desired.

This modified embodiment of Figure 3 controls the volume of air issuing from the duct by controlling the size of the high velocity throat 41, and controls the temperature of the issuing air by controlling the deflecting vanes 61 and 62 in substantially the manner previously described in connection with Figure 2. This modified embodiment illustrates the use of a motion multiplying lever 15 and link 16 for increasing the range of movement of the vane actuating lever 55, which motion multiplying mechanism may be embodied in the construction of Figure 2 if desired.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 4, the high velocity throat 41 is arranged for manual adjustment. In this construction, an adjusting screw 8| has rotatable, non-shiftable mounting in a guide boss 82 carried by the bottom wall 3i. screw passes through the end flange 48' of the movable wall 48 and has threaded engagement with a nut hub or bracket 83 which is secured to said flange 43. Rotation of the head 85 at the lower end of the screw 8! is operative to flex the movable wall 48 upwardly or downwardly for varying the effective area of the throat 4?. This modified embodiment can have the same temperature control exercised at the other high velocity throat 53 operative through the medium of the deflecting vanes GI and 62 to control the area of impingement of the air stream against the heat exchange conduit 44. These deflecting vanes i and 62 are arranged to respond to the thermal bellows 61 in the same manner previously described.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 5, the flow through the high velocity throat 4'! is responsive to temperature, static pressure, and manual adjustment. The static pressure response is similar to that described above in connection with Figure 3, comprising a compression spring 1i confined between the end flange 48 of the movable wall 28 and the stationary bottom wall 3!. The stem ll extending through said spring carries the upper end stop 73 for limiting the upward movement of the wall 48, and also carries a, lower stop shoulder or collar 8'? for limiting the downward movement of the wall it. Also mounted in the throat 41, preferably anterior of the spring and rod assembly ll, 12, is a balanced damper valve 9| mounted on a horizontal central pivot 92. A pivot lug 93 on the anterior face of this valve has pivotal connection through link 96 with a swivel head 95 mounted on the inner end of the adjustable rod 96. This rod or stem 96 extends outwardly through a thermal bellows 51. The outer end of said stem carries an adjusting head 9'! for rotating the stem, this outer portion being threaded at 58 for screwing inwardly and outwardly of a nut 99 carried by the outer end of the bellows 51'. The bellows may comprise an inner expansible portion through which the rod 96 passes, or a tight fitting joint may be established between the rod and each end The upper threaded end of this 0 ill of the bellows. It will be evident that rise and fall of temperature in the air stream acting on the bellows will expand or contract the bellows for oscillating the damper 9i toward open or closed positions. A manual adjustment may be superposed on this automatic temperature control by rotating the adjusting knob 91 so as to thread the stem 96 inwardly or outwardly with respect to the bellows, the inner end of the stem rotating within the swivel head 95. Such manual adjustment shifts the position of the damper valve 9| with respect to the temperature range of movement efiected by the bellows. The second high velocity throat 53 with its associated deflector vanes BI and 62 responds to the other bellows 6'! in the same manner previously described.

As previously pointed out in the general statement of this specification, the above described embodiments of my invention can be utilized as a part of an air circulating system or air conditioning system arranged to discharge air or to circulate air in a room, conditioning chamber, display case or other enclosure. In embodiments in which there is to be no heating or cooling of the air within the grille section, the thermal exchange conduit 44 may be dispensed with. In my copending application, Serial No. 420,460, filed November 26, 1941, now issued as Patent No. 2,380,- 935, I have illustrated other embodiments of the invention.

While I have herein illustrated and described what I regard to be certain preferred embodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and. that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim:

1. In air circulating apparatus, the combination of an air supply duct for supplying air under pressure, a grille or discharge opening extending substantially longitudinally of said supply duct through which air is discharged into the room or other enclosure, a movable wall extending substantially longitudinally of said duct for controlling the volume of air flowing from said duct to said discharge opening, means coacting with said movable wall for causing it to be responsive to the static pressure in said duct, a thermal exchange conduit in said duct, temperature responsive means regulating the effective area of impingement of the air against said thermal exchange conduit prior to the issuance of the air through said discharge opening, a balanced damper valve controlling the volume of air flowing from said duct to said discharge opening, temperature responsive means for actuating said damper valve, and manually actuated adjustingv means for adjusting the position of said damper valve.

2. In a duct system of air circulation for a room or other enclosure, the combination of a relatively long duct extending horizontally across substantially one entire side of said room or other enclosure, partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length, an air supply passageway defined between said partition means and one side of said duct, a plenum chamber defined between said partition means and the other side of said duct, said air supply passageway and said plenum chamber extending side-by-side in substantially the same horizontal plane throughout substantially the entire length of said duct, a blower connected to supply air under pressure into said air supply passageway at one end of said duct, said partition means comprising a damper extending approximately the entire length of said duct for permitting a controlled flow of air from said air supply passageway into said plenum chamber, means for varying the position of said damper, and a curved deflecting wall extending from said plenum chamber along substantially its entire length and cooperating with said duct to define a relatively long horizontal grille slot which directs the discharging air substantially horizontally back toward the air supply passageway side of said duct.

3. In a duct system of air circulation for a room or other enclosure, the combination of a relatively long duct extending horizontally across substantially one entire side of said room or other enclosure, partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length, an air supply passageway defined between said partion means and one side of said duct, a plenum chamber defined between said partition means and the other side of said duct, said air supply passageway and said plenum chamber extending side-by-side in substantially the same horizontal plane throughout substantially the entire length of said duct, a blower connected to supply air under pressure into said air supply passageway at one end of said duct, said partition means comprising a damper extending approximately the entire length of said duct for permitting a controlled flow of air from said air supply passageway to said plenum chamber, means for varying the position of said damper, a thermal exchange conduit in said plenum chamber, and a curved deflecting wall extending from said plenum chamber along substantially its entire length and cooperating with said duct to define a relatively long horizontal grille slot which directs the discharging air substantially horizontally back toward the air supply passageway side of said duct.

4. In a duct system of air circulation for a room or other enclosure, the combination of a relatively long duct extending horizontally across substantially one entire side of said room or other enclosure, partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length, an air supply passageway defined between said partition means and one side of said duct, a plenum chamber defined between said partition means and the other side of said duct, said air supply passageway and said plenum chamber extending side-by-side in substantially the same horizontal plane throughout substantially the entire length of said duct, a blower connected to supply air under pressure into said air supply passageway at one end of said duct, said partition means comprising a damper extending approximately the entire length of said duct for permitting a controlled flow of air from said air supply passageway into said plenum chamber, means for varying the position of said damper, a curved deflecting wall extending from said plenum chamber along substantially its entire length and cooperating with said duct to define a relatively long horizontal grille slot which directs the discharging air substantially horizontally back toward the air supply passageway side of said duct, and deflecting means associated with said grille slot and adapted to be set to deflect the air in its issuance from said grille slot.

5. In a duct system of air circulation for a room or other enclosure, the combination of a relatively long duct extending horizontally across substantially one entire side of said room or other enclosure, partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length, an air supply passageway defined between said partition means and one side of said duct, aplenum chamber defined between said partition means and the other side of said duct, said air supply passageway and said plenum chamber extending side-by-side in substantially the same horizontal plane throughout substantially the entire length of said duct, a blower connected to supply air under pressure into said air supply passageway at one end of said duct, said partition means comprising a damper extending approximately the entire length of said duct for permitting a controlled flow of air from said air supply passageway into said plenum chamber, means for varying the position of said damper, a curved deflecting wall extending from said plenum chamber along substantially its entire length and cooperating with said duct to define a relatively long horizontal grille slot which directs the discharging air substantially horizontally back toward the air supply passageway side of said duct, and deflector vanes pivotally mounted in said grille slot at spaced points along the length of said slot and arranged for adjustable movement to diiTerent lateral positions for controlling the lateral distribution of the air issuing from said grille slot.

6. In a duct system of air circulation for a room or other enclosure, the combination of a relatively long duct extending substantially horizontally across one side of said room or other enclosure, partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length, an air supply passageway defined between said partition means and one side of said duct, a plenum chamber defined between said partition means and the other side of said duct, said air supply passageway and said plenum chamber extending side-by-side in substantially the same horizontal plane throughout substantially the entire length of said duct, a blower connected to supply air under pressure into said air supply passageway at one end of said duct, a high velocity throat defined along one edge of said partition means and extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length for permitting a flow of air from said air supply passageway into said plenum chamber, a thermal exchange conduit in said plenum chamber extending substantially from end to end thereof, and a deflecting wall extending from said plenum chamber along substantially its entire length to define a relatively long horizontal grille slot which directs the discharging air substantially horizontally back toward the air supply passageway side of said duct and into the room or other enclosure in the form of a thin sheet of air distributed over a relatively wide area.

'7. In a duct system of air circulation for a room or other enclosure, the combination of a relatively long duct extending substantially horizontally across said room or other enclosure, partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length, an air supply passageway defined between said partition means and one side of said duct, a plenum chamber defined between said partition means and the other side of said duct, said air supply passageway being adapted to receive at one end thereof air under pressure from a blower or other source of air supply, an air transfer throat associated with said partition means extending longitudinally of said duct throughout substantially its entire length for transferring air from said air supply passageway to said plenum chamber, and a curved deflecting wall extending from said plenum chamber along substantially its entire length and cooperating with said duct to define a relatively long horizontal grille slot which directs the discharge of the air substantially horizontally back toward the air supply passageway side of said duct and into the room or other enclosure in the form of a thin sheet of air distributed over a relatively wide area.

JOHN R. BOYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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